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Manufacturers

Late 19th century makers of a lawn edger and "automatic shears" consisting of ratchet-driven shears attached to a small roller, the machine being pushed along by a pole handle. Registered office was at 13 Charterhouse Street, London. The price c1890 was 22/-d.

American manufacturers - one product of the company had a cylinder with two very thin blades which cut with a scythe action, as the "Flexa", so dispensing with the fixed bottom blade. The manufacturers may have been the Autosickle Co. of South Natick, Massachusetts, USA.

Oxford makers of the Allen Scythe reciprocating knife mower from 1935. The firm acquired the Mayfield company in 1960 and continued to produce machines under the Allen-Mayfield and Allen Power Equipment names.

A company based at Shelbyville, Indiana, USA, and still extant. The firm was founded at the end of the 19th century (1892) by four partners in Richmond, Indiana, at that time one of the centres of the American lawn mower industry. The firm moved to Muncie, Ind. in 1902. In 1936 the company acquired the Great States Company which had established itself in Shelbyville in 1923, making their first mower in 1925. The ALM Co. itself moved to Shelbyville in 1984. The firm specialises in "reel mowers" which is the US term for cylinder (usually sidewheel) machines.

A Preston firm, manufacturers of the "Presto" & "Rollmo" mowers, this company began producing mowers in the mid-1930s making both manual and powered machines. Acquired by the Qualcast Group in the 1950s the company was then closed down.

Originally C.H. Pugh's Atlas Chain Company, this firm started making mowers in 1921 and were soon the market leaders for the suburban market with their "Standard" mower. The "Standard" was soon followed by a series of lightweight mowers which sold in large numbers both before and after World War 2. ATCO became part of the Qualcast Group in 1962 and part of Birmid-Qualcast in 1967. In 1969 they merged with Suffolk Iron Foundries to become Suffolk Lawn Mowers whereupon ATCO production moved to Stowmarket. Birmid-Qualcast were acquired by Blue Circle Industries in 1988, and in 1992 there was a further name change when the name Atco-Qualcast was adopted.

An Australian company from Armadale, Victoria. In the 1950s they were producing a Villiers-powered roller mower similar to the lightweight ATCO machines of the same period and also made a kick-start rotary mower.

A company started by G. Grist in the early 1920s making high quality mowers, as well as a variety of other machinery and components, based at Norton St. Philip, Nr. Bath. The mower manufacturing rights were sold to Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies in 1946 and the remainder of the business was sold to T.H. White Ltd. of Devizes in 1968.

Late 19th century makers. In the 1890s they produced the "Beatrice" sidewheel machine and the "New Clipper" roller mower. In 1902 they pioneered the Wansbrough Patent method of altering the height of cut, fitting it to their "Godiva" range of mowers. The company was based at Queen St. Peterborough and became Agricultural & General Engineers (AGE) in 1920. See also Nene Engineering.

In 1863 this firm patented a mower utilising friction drive by rubber-tyred wheels. This was not successful and by 1866 the company had returned to a Budding-type gear drive. However, in 1877 this company were still offering their rubber-tyred ("Noiseless") machine alongside a geared drive machine (an "extra-strong" version being available for pony haulage); and "Cottage" mowers with 6- 10 inch cut.

A Stuttgart (Germany) firm, pioneers of the motor car, experimented with a petrol-driven lawnmower c1897. There is no evidence, however, that this was put into production on any scale. See also Coldwell and Grimsley.

Manufacturer of manual roller and sidewheel mowers in the 1930s. The company was based at New Basford in Nottingham, and products included the Binch "Model B" sidewheel mower and the "Grasshopper" roller mower. Also referred to as "British Binch".

An American firm from Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, (c1884) previously trading under the names of B & J, and Blair & Fiske (1879-1884) makers of the "Easy" and "Hercules" mowers. In 1955 the Blair Mfg. Co. became Blair Co.

A Lewisham manufacturer of a manual roller mower advertised in the Great Exhibition Catalogue 1862. This was advertised as a "patent brush mower, self cleaning, self sharpening" and with a "shaft roller" and "tubular scythe handles". Boyd had originally designed a lighter and improved version of the Budding mower which was manufactured by Samuelson c1855.

A Friedrichshafen (Germany) manufacturer (ca. 1955) of a powered hand-held motor scythe with a star-shaped rotating cutting head. Two models were available, the F300 and the F600. The machine was slung across the operator's body by means of a strap and used very much in the same way as a modern strimmer. A variety of attachments were available.

A long-established engineering firm making a range of mowers in the 1950/60s. Products of this company include the "Easimow" and the "Lawnrider" but other more conventional mowers were also manufactured. The firm was based at Hampton Hill, Middlesex, and later at Maidstone. The Anzani company had three major independent firms, Italian Anzani, French Anzani, and British Anzani, all of which had pioneered the use of small petrol engines for the aircraft and marine industries during both World Wars. By the early 1970s, however, British Anzani had been bought by scrap metal and property speculators.

Pattern maker and inventor (1795-1846) who designed the world's first lawn mower in 1830. His patent 5990 (1830) describes the machine as "a new combination and application of machinery for the purpose of cropping or shearing the vegetable surface of lawns, grass plats, and pleasure grounds, constituting a machine which may be used with advantage instead of a scythe." He then went into partnership with John Ferrabee. From 1832 Ransomes of Ipswich obtained a licence to produce and sell Budding mowers also, thereby establishing a network for the sale of Budding & Ferrabee machines. By 1840 over 1,000 machines had been sold.

A Brentwood (Essex) firm of agricultural implement makers (formerly Burgess & Key) established in 1855 to make McCormick reapers. In 1910 they produced a water-cooled motor mower with ribbed land wheels. This machine was sold in 24 and 30 inch widths, and the selling price of just under £50 made it highly competitive. After World War 1 they pioneered the use of motor-conversion kits for the larger manual and pony mowers, but had gone out of business by the end of the 1930s. Also manufacturers of the "Bee" powered mower c1922.

A company based at 232 Oxford Street, London, makers of horse and garden clippers, and sheep shears. In the 1870s and 80s they also produced a range of long-handled reciprocating knife machines with rear rollers and collecting trays for use on slopes, rough grass, and standing crops. The "Astor" grass clipper made by Flexa in the 1950s was a modern version of these Clark's machines.

Manufacturers from Newburgh, New York, USA 1891-1950. Makers of an American petrol-engined lawn mower to the original design by the Englishman W. J. Stephenson-Peach, c1906. They were also makers of "Excelsior" and "New Excelsior" machines. This firm also made (ca. 1900) a steam-driven mower weighing 1.3 tons with a vertical boiler and 40 inch cutting width. On the smaller "Excelsior" mowers the words "C & C Mfg. Co., Newburgh, N.Y." appear on the handle bow, and on the larger mowers this was cast into a square plate mounted on the handles.

Bedford makers of a motorised cylinder mower (1920/30s) characterised by its bottle-shaped petrol tank mounted vertically on the left-hand handle. One such machine, owned by an Old Lawnmower Club member was exhibited at the 2003 annual rally of the Club.

An Iowa, USA inventor and, in 1909, patentee of a lawn mower in which the blades of the cutting cylinder were made in the form of arcs of an ellipse, the bottom blade being shaped to that of the main blades to give a shearing cut. As far as is known, no mower was ever mass-produced using this principle.

A Guildford company which started making mowers in 1921 after having made their name in the manufacturing of commercial vehicles. Their initial design based on aluminium castings was not a success but the company re-appeared in 1923 with a new design which formed the basis of their mowers until the 1960s. These heavy mowers were usually sold with 24 or 30 inch cutting widths, and were best used with a trailing seat. Their speciality was to produce machines for large flat surfaces such as cricket pitches. Early machines had rectangular fuel tanks but these were later replaced by cylindrical ones. In the post-1945 Z Type machines the single flywheel was replaced by twin flywheels but there is a marked similarity between this firm's pre-war designs and the later models which continued well into the 1960s. The company finally ceased production in 1970 but their machines continued to be made by the Dennis Godstone Engineering Co. until 1981.

A London department store (latterly Barkers) well-known for its roof garden. At least one Club member has an American-made sidewheel mower c1930 with the name of this firm cast into the wheel hubs. Like similar mowers marked Selfridges and Gamages, it is assumed that this was a catalogue mower.

A Guildford company, well known for their lathes, making a range of powered and manual mowers in the 1920s and 30s, notably the "Willing Worker" roller mower. This company originated with an artist and model maker, Arthur Drummond, who set out to produce a good model-making lathe. The firm was based at Rydes Hill, Guildford, and commenced operations in 1896 but did not turn to mower manufacturing until 1924 when manual roller machines were made in three sizes, 10, 12, & 14 inch (the latter being the rarest). Motor mowers were made for 3 years from 1924 ( only 250 being made) but manual mowers continued until the late 1930s. Lathes continued to be made. By the 1960s the firm was the Drummond Division of Staveley Tools, but ceased operations in 1981.

Early 20th century manufacturers based at Prophetstown, Illinois, USA, makers of "The Lady" and other sidewheel machines. Taken over by Hahn Inc. in 1960. (See C.J. Thompson "The Eclipse Lawn Mower Co." FHEC magazine Jan/Feb. 1999).

A Gerrards Cross firm. Retailers of the “Kingfisher” rotary mower c1955 and the “Bushwakka” bracken cutter, c1960, as well as a range of other machines. Farmfitters were not only retailers but also made a variety of bodies onto which other people's engines were fitted (see Rapier).

A maker of textile machinery and partner with Edwin Budding in the world's first lawn mower factory (1830). After the latter's death in 1846 Ferrabee continued to sell and improve upon Budding machines.

The makers of a pre-war electric mains-driven roller mower, the "Fleet Electric". This firm was based in Regent Street, London and in 1939 were advertising their lightweight machine for £8.8.0d complete with grass box and 75ft. of flex. The machine resembled the contemporary Qualcast "Panther" with the addition of an electric motor.

(Aktiebolaget Flymo) Latterly a subsidiary of Electrolux and producers of the first hover mower in 1966. This machine was the brainchild of Danish industrialist Karl Dahlman, with British Patent 929, 610 (1963). Production started at Newton Aycliffe, Co. Durham, in 1964 and the business was acquired by Electrolux in 1968. Flymos were made in various sizes and with small Japanese petrol engines as well as the conventional mains-driven electric motor. Grass collectors were fitted in the late 1970s, about the time Flymo lost their monopoly of the hover mower when their patent expired.

A Manchester (Gorton) firm which started making mowers in 1869 by introducing the "Climax", the world's first sidewheel machine which dispensed with the heavy land roller. They continued to produce a wide range of machines until the firm was taken over by Qualcast in 1938. Qualcast then continued to make mowers under the name "Folbate" until 1966.

The London stores - retailers of catalogue mowers, both roller and sidewheel, many of which were made in the U.S.A. and others by Qualcast, (including the latter's Model "E" and roller machines) under the Gamages label. Many of these machines were simply marked "The Gamage".

(Formerly Nene Engineering Co.) Makers of the "Godiva" lawn mower which was awarded "highly recommended" in the 1925 motor mower trials in Regents Park, London. A range of 2-stroke and 4-stroke mowers utilising J.A.P. engines were produced by this company, which seems to have been started by former employees of Barford & Perkins (see "Godiva" above). One of the firm's workshops was at De Montfort Road, Reading, near to Allen & Simmonds factory. This latter company, as well as making the "Auto Culto" range of garden tractors, made many of the parts for the "Godiva" mower. The mowers produced were not unlike the contemporary "Automower" machines, although one four-stroke example had a distinctive slab-sided petrol tank mounted on struts.

An American firm making sidewheel mowers from 1925. In 1932 this company moved to Shelbyville, Indiana, USA, and in 1936 was acquired by the American Lawn Mower Co. The firm is still extant as a part of the latter company.

One of the mower manufacturers who made improvements upon Budding's original design (see also Shanks and Samuelson), Thomas Green designed a lighter machine in 1855; his design winning the first lawn mower trial which took place at Chiswick in 1858. In that year Ransomes stopped producing Budding mowers and became retailers for both Greens and Shanks. In 1859 Green's were to produce the world's first chain-driven mower, the "Silens Messor" which was to remain in production until 1935. They continued to produce a wide range of mowers until the mower side of the firm was acquired by Hawker Siddeley in the 1960s and finally closed down. The Green name and designs were taken over by Reekie of Arbroath.

A firm based at the Sanderstead Works, South Croydon, and makers of the Grigg Power Unit for pony mowers. In 1924 their power unit for a 24 inch pony mower retailed at £27.0.0d, including gearing, controls etc. The unit could also be used to drive ancillary farm machinery such as chaff cutters.

Manufacturers of a petrol-engined lawn mower in 1897, and probably pre-dating the machines by Stephenson-Peach, thus making them the world's first makers of petrol-driven mowers. The company's works were at Halford Street, Leicester.

A building contractor who turned to mower production in 1947 at Spellbrook on the Herts/Essex border. The first mower from his company was the Hayter Motor Scythe which was a rotary machine but the firm also produced mowers with interchangeable cylinder/rotary units. From 1957 Hayters entered the domestic market with the "Hayterette". Various engines were used by the firm, including Villiers, Briggs & Stratton, Kohler & J.L.O. Many of their machines had bird names (eg "Condor", "Osprey" etc). The company was acquired by J.H. Tomkins in the early 1980s and Beaver Equipment Ltd. was acquired by the new company in 1987.

American inventor from Shasta, California, USA, and patentee in 1908 of a sidewheel mower with four sets of circular cutters revolving in the horizontal plane, the grass being guided onto these by "fingers". An American mower, the "Monta" was marketed in the1920s to the 1940s on this principle.

British nineteenth century manufacturers of a gear-drive mower marked "Whitaker Patent" which had a bobbin-turned front roller and a draw-strap for 2-man operation. Both William Hunt and Vipan & Headby of Church Gate Works, Leicester advertised as being "late Hunt & Pickering".

This Swedish firm originated in 1682 as gun makers and later made their name as sewing machine manufacturers. As well as the popular "Dux", examples of a small manual sidewheel mower by this firm c1960 are occasionally seen in the UK. This had a metal pole handle with the crosspiece consisting of a "vee with knobs on". In the 1990s the company introduced a flat solar powered mower which, once set up, needed no human guidance. This sold for around £2,000. The firm is now part of Electrolux.

An American company based in Lansing, Michigan and making its first mower in 1914, by the late 1920s/1930s this company was specialising in golf course mowers such as the "Bulldog" and the "Greensmower". One of their products, c1927, had a 30 inch cutting cylinder with two side-wheels driven by a large diameter roller which was belt-driven from a single-cylinder 4-stroke engine. Advertisements show this being operated with a trailing seat. The founder of the firm was Ranson Eli Olds.

American inventor from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, USA, and patentee of "Ingleton's Lawn Mower", c1880 - a hybrid machine with two ridged drive wheels mounted at the rear of the cutting cylinder in place of the usual land roller, as in the "Charter Oak" mower. There is also a US patent 7/30/1895.

Manufacturers of an 8 inch sidewheel mower c. 1938 owned by a Club member. This little mower with a steel handle was originally painted dark blue. It is understood that models were made both before and after World War 2, differing from each other in respect of the flanges cast into the inner edge of the wheel hubs. This firm has nothing to do with the car company of the same name.

Jerram & Pearson first started making mowers immediately after World War 1, producing a very high-quality and expensive machine which is sometimes referred to as “The Rolls-Royce of mowers”. The company is first listed in the local Trades Directory in 1925 as J.P. Super Lawnmowers Ltd. of Meynell Road, Leicester (but is not mentioned in the previous 1920 directory), although in 1920 the two partners are listed as Arthur Jerram, Engineer, of Oadby and James Pearson of Baron-Pearson Engineering Co. of Leicester. One of their early products was a water-cooled mower with a water hopper similar to that found on stationary engines; this later utilised a Blackburn engine. By the 1930s they were making smaller mowers including the “Maxees”. They continued production after 1945 still using cast aluminium, a material which they had pioneered between the wars. The company continued trading as J.P. Super Lawnmowers ("Superlamo") until 1963 but in 1966 are listed as J.P. Engineering Co. Ltd. still of Meynell Road. The firm was bought by Cannon & Stokes circa. 1969 and they then closed down mower production at the end of 1971 (see Leicester Mercury dated 11.1.72). In 1974 all JP spares and stock seem to have been moved to Cliftons in Knaphill, Woking, where Richard Clifton intended to start production on a limited basis “to provide an out-of-season occupation for his workshop mechanics” (see trade magazine AGM in March 1976). Nothing seems to have come of this however, the hand-mower stock was scrapped, and the power mower stock sold to Dennis circa 1990 when they continued to make their own model based on the Super Mk.5B. (Grateful thanks to Club member Henry Ellis for much of the above information).

Dublin manufacturers who advertised their "registered tilt gear" machine in the Great Exhibition Catalogue of 1862. Tilt action pony mowers, with one box at the front and another at the rear, were available in 26, 30, & 36 inch sizes. The firm's registered office was at Fishamble Street, Dublin.

Originally Byron Horticultural Engineering, this Hucknall (Notts) firm was principally engaged in making garden machinery some of which (eg the "Gamecock") had a mowing capability. They did, however, manufacture the "Stoic" rotary mower in the 1960s.

A range of rotary mowers originally marketed by E.P. Barrus of Acton. These were Canadian mowers with 18 and 21 inch cutting widths introduced in 1962. By the 1980s these machines were being made at Downham Market in Norfolk by NJB Mowers Ltd. These had 127cc two-stroke engines and by 1984 had rear mounted grass bags. The first "Lawn-Boy" was made by Evenrude in 1932.

Catalogue mowers are found bearing this name, retailed by Peter Lewis's, the large London stores. Examples were made by the German firm of Brill in the 1920s/30s, and also by Suffolk who also made the Lewis De Luxe.

American (Philadelphia) manufacturers of the "Pennsylvania" sidewheel lawnmower which was sold in large numbers in the U.K., the agents being Lloyd, Lawrence & Co. (later Lloyds of Letchworth). See also "Moto Mower".

London (Camberley) manufacturers of rotary mowers in the 1950s, the best known being the "Motor Sickle" which was exhibited at the 1950 Smithfield Show. The registered office was at 1, Balfour Place, London W.1.

London manufacturers of manual single wheel reciprocating knife mower intended for long grass on lawns and orchards. This had an offset cutter consisting of two fixed serrated blades and one oscillating blade. When introduced in 1925 the price was 70/-d.

A company formed as Croft Engineering after World War 2 to make garden tractors and motor scythes. Initially based at Croydon, the firm moved to Redhill and Rustington before being acquired by Allens in the mid-1960s - the name being changed to Allen Mayfield. In 1975 the company was sold to Arun Tractors and traded under the names of Arun Mayfield and Riverside Mayfield respectively before production ceased in 1981. Their early motor scythes had a 120cc Villiers Mk.10 engine but later models had Villiers 25 and eventually Briggs & Stratton engines.

A Cork firm. Early 20th century makers of a horse-drawn thistle-cutter. This is of interest inasmuch as it employed three forged steel knives mounted on a disc which revolved by spur and bevel gearing driven from the main axle. An early example of a disc mower, albeit for agricultural use.

Engineer of Spear Street, Manchester, and maker of gear-driven roller mowers in the 1860s. Advertising material stated that "1,900 machines were sold in 1868 making a total of 5,700 sold since 1865". Available with either one or two handles, hand machines were offered in 1869 in 10 to 24 inch sizes, and horse and pony mowers from 26 to 48 inches. Prices ranged from £3.10.0d to £8.15.0d for manual machines and from £13.0.0d to £28.0.0d for donkey/horse machines. Later in the century the firm seems mainly to have been engaged in supplying American mowers to British retailers.

A firm importing American mowers through their Houndsditch agency. See "American Champion" c1901 and "Empire" c1904. Many of the machines marketed by this company appear to have been made the F & N Lawn Mower Co. of Richmond, Indiana, USA.

A Nottingham (Derby Rd.) maker c1925, manufacturing mowers under licence from J.P. "Commended" at the May 1925 motor mower trials in Regents Park, London. See "Automo". Also makers of the "Dreadnought" range of gang mowers.

A machine which appeared in 1863 manufactured by Grimond Laird of Arbroath. In the 1860s these mowers were being offered in sizes ranging from 12 to 48 inches, the larger sizes being for pony and horse haulage, at prices ranging from £4.15.0d to £27.0.0d (boxes extra).

A Maidenhead firm started in 1962. Initially making cultivators with a rotary mower attachment, the firm soon established itself in the rotary mower market using a variety of power plants including Briggs & Stratton, Tecumseh, Suzuki, & Kubota. The firm was acquired by Ransomes in 1985.

A sister company to Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies, they joined other firms in the early 1920s to produce a motor conversion unit for larger manual and horse-drawn mowers. This unit was powered by a Villiers 2-stroke engine, the operator sitting on a tractor-type seat on top of the unit, which was shackled to rear of the mower. One such machine restored in Essex in 1995 bears the serial no.817 and the Patent No. 200-581.

A product of Ransomes introduced in 1960, the "Multimower" was that company's first rotary mower. There followed a range of "Multimowers" for the professional market with a variety of engines and cutting options including a reel cutter. By 1964 the basic 27 inch model sold for £150 with a 30 inch cutting cylinder being offered as an optional extra at £58.

A Chicago, USA inventor and, in 1910, patentee of an ingenious system of using the engine of a petrol-driven mower to drive a fan used to suck cut grass into a disposable bag (as on a vacuum cleaner). It is not known if a mower was built by him using this principle of grass disposal.

Australian manufacturer producing mowers for the home market. According to American collector Jim Ricci "Ogden began making mowers about 1946. In 1961 they bought Qualcast - Australia. The lawn mower production operation was closed down and sold off in 1974. I believe that only parts were available after that time, not complete mowers". Jim goes on to say that when he visited the parent company in Oakleigh, Melbourne, they had no lawn mower history available and then made only locks and security products.

A Ripon firm making pony mowers and other smaller mowers such as the"Villa", late 19th/early 20th century, including the "Studley Royal". The founder, William Parkinson is recorded as patentee of improvements to lawnmowers. January/April 1869.

Late 19th century American makers of "Philadelphia" mowers. Many of the firm's products were sidewheel machines such as the "City" and the "Dewey", whilst other mowers were given an alphabetical designation (eg "Style H", "K", "M" etc.). The firm was originally a spin-off c1880 from Graham, Emlen & Passmore.

An Eire firm (still existing in 1999) based at Wexford. Models include the "Hector" and the "Jewel". This firm was started in the 1830s by James Pierce and made a variety of agricultural and forge equipment, first producing lawnmowers in 1928. Now (1999) part of the Smith Group. (See article by Andrew Hall in FHEC Magazine July/August 1999).

A Slough firm (originally at Maidenhead), makers of the Rotoscythe, the world's first rotary lawnmower. Active from 1933, the company re-started production in 1945 and continued until it was acquired by J.E. Shay Ltd. of Basingstoke who continued to make mowers under the Rotoscythe name.

The name, derived from "Quality Castings", adopted by the Derwent Iron Foundry when it became a public company in 1928, although Derwent had made mowers under their own name since 1920, following the Board of Trade's embargo on foreign imports. Much of this firm's work initially was to make components for machines such as the ATCO "Standard". Qualcast acquired Follows & Bate in 1938 and in 1958 took over the Kaufmann Group which included Suffolk Iron Foundries. ATCO joined the Group in 1962 followed in 1967 by Birmid Industries (Birmingham Aluminium Midland Cylinders), the whole becoming Birmid-Qualcast. This in turn was acquired by Blue Circle Industries in 1988 when the foundry side of the business was sold off. In 1991 there was a further name change to Atco-Qualcast Ltd. when the Derby site was closed down and activities transferred to Stowmarket. The company was acquired by the Bosch Group in 1996.

A famous Ipswich firm, makers of agricultural implements since 1789. Originally Ransome & Son, the company became Ransome & Sons (1818), J & R Ransome (1825), J.R. & A Ransome (1830), Ransomes & May (ca. 1851), Ransomes & Sims (1852), Ransomes, Sims & Head (1869), Ransomes, Head, & Jefferies (1881) and finally Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies Ltd. (1884). Ransomes acquired manufacturing rights to Ferrabee & Budding mowers in 1832, but relinquished these in 1858 to become wholesalers for the lighter machines made by Shanks and Greens. They re-entered the mower market in 1861 with a Budding-type machine and in 1867 produced the "Automaton". In 1902, as Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies, they were the first company to produce a petrol-engined lawn mower commercially, although not the first to make such machines. One of the largest UK producers of mowers from before the First World War until the 1960s, Ransomes gradually withdrew from the domestic mower market in the 1970s to concentrate on the professional and local authority market. However, the acquisition of the Mountfield and Westwood companies in the 1980s brought a renewed interest in domestic mowers. In 1989 Ransomes acquired Cushman & Ryan of Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. By the 1990s the firm was mainly specialising in mowers for the professional golf market; the American factories producing rotary machinery with the UK side of the business specialising in cylinder mowers. In November 1997 a successful bid for the company was made by the American company Textron Inc.

An Essex firm with a foundry at Great Holland this company made their own 10 and 12 inch manual roller mowers c1915 utilising bicycle-gauge chain. The company later became Ratcliffe Bros. (ca. 1923) and finally A. Ratcliffe (ca. 1933).

In March 1915 W. E. Rendle was granted a patent (no. 10371), from an application which he had submitted in April 1914, for a portable petrol-driven mower pusher unit. This was further improved by a second patent granted in 1915 (no. 6284). There was also a US patent. By the early 1920s these units were in production and were awarded "Highly Recommended" in the May 1925 motor mower trials at Regents Park, London. Head Office was at 5, Victoria Street, London S.W.1. The unit sold for 44 guineas in 1925. With its 'A'-frame chassis it appears to be a somewhat sturdier (and by the same token heavier) machine than the M.P. The operator's seat was trailed and did not, as in the M.P., form an integral part of the unit itself. A fine example of the Rendle mower pusher is owned by a Club member.

This Banbury firm of agricultural engineers started making Budding mowers in 1854 but soon switched to mowers designed by Samuel Boyd who had patented an improvement to the Budding mower to provide a lighter machine. In 1855 Samuelsons were selling Budding-type mowers in 16, 19, 22, 25, and 30 inch sizes with prices ranging from

Australian manufacturers from Adelaide, South Australia. This firm was making mowers by the mid-1930s and in 1943 were recipients of an order by the Australian Army. Many of their models were electric but some were fitted with a Buzacott hopper-cooled petrol engine similar to the British Lister "D".

An Arbroath engineer, Alexander Shanks was engaged by W.F. Carnegie to improve upon Budding's mower so that it could be more easily pulled by two men or a pony. This design was patented in 1842 and, because Budding's original patents did not cover Scotland, it was able to enter full production. Shanks produced a steam powered mower in 1902. A wide range of mowers was produced both before and after the two World Wars, but in later years the company ran into financial difficulties and turned to making gang mowers for ATCO, eventually being taken over by that company in 1960. The Shanks name finally disappeared from the mower scene about 1970.

Manufacturer based at Junction Works, New Wortley, Leeds and extant in 1865. Products included “Shaw's Patent Flexible self-adjusting lawn mowing machines”. Two designs of machine are known to have been offered, both manual roller mowers.

A Basingstoke firm which acquired Power Specialities Ltd. in 1952 and continued to manufacture mowers under the "Rotoscythe" name. The firm was taken over by Wolseley Engineering in the early 1960s, whereupon mower production ceased. Roller mowers were made in addition to rotary machines.

A late 19th century American firm from Syracuse, New York, engaged in supplying catalogue mowers to UK retailers. In the late 19th century they made a sidewheel ball-bearing mower called "The Stearns" which they advertised with the slogan "see those balls".

An inventor and designer from Burton-on-Trent and Professor of Engineering at Repton and Cheltenham public schools, W.J. Stephenson-Peach experimented with a variety of powered lawn mowers at the end of the 19th century. His petrol-engined machine was later sold commercially by Coldwell in the United States.

A Stowmarket firm started in 1920 by L.J. Tibbenham. In 1925 the company added lawn mowers to their range of products. These were sidewheel machines made under the Suffolk name and those of retailers such as Selfridges. In 1954 the popular "Colt" and "Punch" powered roller mowers were introduced. In 1958 the company became part of the Qualcast Group, and in 1967 this Group (by then including ATCO) merged with Birmid Industries to become Birmid Qualcast. Suffolk amalgamated with ATCO in 1969 to become Suffolk Lawn Mowers, all production then moving to Stowmarket. Birmid Qualcast were acquired by Blue Circle Industries in 1988 and in 1992 there was a further name change to Atco-Qualcast.

The inventor of the first steam lawn mower, 1893. Sumner's machine was available in 25, 30, and 36 inch cut, and the steam power units were also sold separately to put on to horse drawn machines. See Lancashire Steam Motor Co., Leyland, and Stott.

An American firm from Philadelphia and manufacturers of the "Pennsylvania" and other sidewheel mowers imported into this country by Lloyd Lawrence & Co., late 19th and early 20th century. This company appears to have started in 1889 as sales agents for J. Braun.

A Reading firm of seed merchants whose name appears on a variety of mowers made by manufacturers such as Ransomes; the "Chain Automaton" being retailed by Suttons long after it had been superseded in the Ransomes catalogue by the "Patent Chain Automaton" in 1892. Suttons name also appears on "Pennsylvania" mowers.

A Northumberland inventor and patentee of Symm's Patent Thistle Cutter later marketed by his executors. This was a horse-drawn mower with wide-diameter cutting cylinder, which won medals at Alnwick (1890) and Morpeth (1893). Ransomes made a smaller version of this which is illustrated in their 1915 catalogue (see "Bents Cutter").

A Keynsham (Bristol) firm started by a Mr. Montague-Smith after World War 1 and which allegedly made lawn mowers prior to it being taken over by H. Brecknell for the manufacture of "Keynsham" mowers in 1931.

A firm started in 1943 at Blackdown (Truro), manufacturers of powered hedge cutters and reciprocating knife mowers in the late 1950s/early 1960s, including the "Jetcut" and the "Jetscythe". This firm also produced a range of conventional rotary mowers in the late 1950s which sold at £25.0.0d and £28.0.0d according to size. The firm was still extant in the 1990s but mower production had ceased.

Late 19th century manufacturers of castings for horticultural purposes based at Upper Wharf Street, London. A manual roller mower is featured in their 1875 advertisement, although at that time they did not claim to make mowers.

An American maker from Orange, New Jersey, known to have made a range of mowers c1900, including a ball-bearing sidewheel machines and a triple-ratchet pony mower. These machines were imported into Great Britain in some numbers. The company left Orange in 1920 and established itself at Bloomfield, NJ, until closure in 1936.

An Australian company making rotary mowers from 1953 onwards, the original Australian patent (8770/55) was filed by M.V. Richardson on 2 May 1955. In 1970 the company joined the Sunbeam Corporation and by the mid-1970s were producing heavy duty turf equipment as well as a variety of other products. In 1983 the company celebrated its first 30 years by making its 4 millionth mower. In 1987 the firm was acquired by the Reil Corporation, thus returning the company to Australian ownership. In 1988 Directors of the company effected the largest management buy-out in Australian history when they purchased Sunbeam-Victa. In 1991 E.P. Barrus were appointed as UK distributors. This firm exports widely and it is claimed to be (1996) the largest mower manufacturer in the world. By 1996 the UK importers were Victa (UK) of Watford. A toy rotary mower in a member's collection bears the name Victa Corvette - was this a product of this company?

The Ipswich inventor of "an improved friction gear and noiseless clutch for lawn mowers". The rights for his patent were put up for sale by the American Patent Agency in 1890 under the heading of "Novel Lawn Mower".

A Birmingham firm which added mowers to their range of products in 1928, their first mower being the sidewheel "De Luxe". They also made the chassis for mowers made by the Enfield Cycle Co. Webb are best known for their wide range of small manual roller mowers (eg the "Whippet") both before and after the World War 2. They also made the "Miniature" mowers for children in the 1950s. Webb became part of the Wolseley Hughes Group in 1963 but continued to trade under the Webb name until 1973 when they became Wolseley Webb. The company became part of the Qualcast Group in 1984 and apart from one model, the 1990 "Diplomat", the name then disappeared from the mower scene.

Mower and garden tractor manufacturers acquired by Ransomes in 1985. Seven models of garden tractor were made in 1986 and twelve some ten years later. These employed a variety of engines and cutting widths.

Makers of "Whitaker's new patent lawn mowing machine" a mid-19th century mower resembling the Budding designs. This was advertised in 13 to 30 inch cutting widths, with prices ranging from £4.10.0d to £16.0.0d.

A 1960s mower made by, or for, the razor-blade manufacturers of that name. This was a sidewheel mower having a tubular steel handle, flexible blades of the "Flexa"-type, and a plastic front-fitting grassbox. These were still in production in the 1980s; Wilkinson Sword by this time using the "Flexa" name.

The Woods Patent grass mowing machine was marketed in the UK by W. M. Cranston and advertised in the Great Exhibition Catalogue of 1862. This machine was probably a product of the Walter A Wood Mowing & Reaping Machine Co. of Hoosick Falls, New York, USA.

American manufacturers from Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. Makers of a sidewheel mower, c1904, advertised as having "parallel bearings". A conventional "T"-handled machine. This company was later bought out by the Savage Arms Co., Chicopee Falls, Ma. and mowers under both brand names continued to be made until 1960.

The American inventor (ca. 1913) of the use of multiple mowers to form a gang-mower unit, an idea pioneered in the UK by Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies c1920. The Worthington company was later taken over by the Jacobsen Corporation. Also connections with the Shawnee Mower Co. and the Worthington Tractor Co.